Chapter 39
Chad didn’t bring anything more than he could carry in his backpack when he left his apartment, and he made his way down the stairs to get into the cab that would take him to the airport.
Only when he exited his building the car was nowhere in sight, and the alpha that had interviewed him after he got back from his first mission was waiting for him.
“Mr. Merchant?” Chad asked, moving to stand on the opposite side of the sidewalk from the intimidating man. Merchant was leaning against a black SUV, his eyes hidden behind a pair of mirrored shades. He took the sunglasses off as Chad approached.
“Mr. Brand. I need to have a few words with you. I understand you’re heading to the airport?”
Chad nodded, wondering how the hell Merchant knew that.
“Great. I’ll give you a ride and we can talk on the way. Do you have more luggage?”
Chad shook his head. He couldn’t imagine why Merchant needed to talk to him. Was he in trouble?
“Then hop in.” Merchant walked around to the driver’s side of the car and got behind the wheel. Wondering what the hell was going on, Chad opened the passenger-side door and hopped in.
“How did you know I was going to the airport?” Chad asked as Merchant started the engine and pulled away from the curb.
“You used the company discount code,” Merchant said, like it was obvious. Chad bit his lower lip and frowned. Why would anyone be monitoring that?
“So what did you want to talk about?” Chad asked. Normally he would have been much more polite, but he was tired and worried about his dad and not in the mood for weird power games.
Merchant gave him a look out of the corner of his eye, but he didn’t comment on Chad’s rude attitude. Chad shifted in his seat, uncomfortable. An alpha like Merchant wouldn’t normally let an alpha like Chad get away with any kind of disrespect. It was weird.
“Sorry, I’m having a bad day,” Chad said when the silence became uncomfortable.
“Anything to do with Tank Security?” Merchant asked. Chad frowned, wondering why he’d ask that.
“No?” he said, phrasing it like a question. “Why?”
“So you’re happy with the company?”
“Yes, of course.” Chad wondered what this was about.
“I couldn’t help but notice you’re moving a little stiffly,” Merchant said after a few seconds. There was an odd hesitation in his voice, like he wasn’t quite sure how he should be wording his statement.
Suddenly Chad understood. This was about Aiden. The asshole had clearly crossed a line with Chad, and now they were worried he was going to be a coward about it and sue.
Chad might not be able to beat Aiden in a fair fight, but that didn’t mean he’d use the law to get his way. He wasn’t that much of a traitor to his own kind. An alpha either fought and won, or they yielded to the natural order. Doing otherwise would get you shunned and held in contempt.
“If this is about yesterday, you don’t have to worry,” Chad said.
“We don’t?” Merchant turned to him with a questioning glance. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not going to sue,” Chad said. He hoped this wasn’t coming from Peter. If the alpha thought that Chad was the kind of alpha who couldn’t take care of his own problems… it would be humiliating.
“That’s good,” Merchant said. He didn’t sound convinced.
“I mean, I’m angry that he beat the crap out of me, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to humiliate myself by getting a lawyer.”
Chad regretted his outburst immediately, and the look Merchant was giving him wasn’t helping matters. He felt like a hormonal teenager.
“Is this… is Peter Tank worried I’m going to sue?” Chad couldn’t help himself. He wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about it unless he got an answer.
“No. I was the one who raised the concern. He didn’t think you were the type.”
Chad was relieved. Knowing that Peter thought him weak and craven would have tainted the night they’d shared together. He wanted to ask if Peter had said anything else about him, but he couldn’t figure out how. For all he knew, Peter might not want anyone to know what had happened between them.
The rest of the drive was conducted in silence. When they got to the airport Chad was relieved. Merchant had been unfailingly pleasant, but there was something off about him.
“Do you have any idea when you’re coming back?” Merchant asked as he pulled into the departures lane.
“It depends on my dad,” Chad said. “I’d like to be there for my mom until he gets out of the hospital, if at all possible.”
“Your dad?” Merchant prompted, stopping the car. Chad realized he hadn’t actually told Merchant why he was leaving.
“Yeah, he had a heart attack yesterday. I’m flying out to see him and to help my mom out.”
“Oh,” Merchant said, looking surprised and oddly pleased. “Well, I hope he gets better soon.”
“Thanks,” Chad said, feeling more unnerved than ever. He’d never met someone who could make smiling look so sinister. Grabbing his backpack from the back seat, he opened the door and jumped out onto the sidewalk. He winced as the impact sent a jolt of pain through his ribs.
He turned around. “Was there anything else?”
Merchant shook his head, another strange look on his face. “No, that was it. Have a nice flight.”
Chad nodded and slammed the door shut behind him. He turned around and walked into the airport without a look back.
***